Happy Thursday all! How is it Thursday already?
Excited about my review for this lovely story! Thanks so much Rachel for my invitation to this tour!🗝
Dear Jane
The final instalment of the Highbury trilogy, Dear Jane recounts events hinted at but never actually described in Jane Austen’s Emma; the formative childhood years of Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill, their meeting in Weymouth and the agony of their secret engagement.
Orphaned Jane seems likely to be brought up in parochial Highbury until adoption by her papa’s old friend Colonel Campbell opens to her all the excitement and opportunities of London. Frank Weston is also transplanted from Highbury, adopted as heir to the wealthy Churchills and taken to their drear and inhospitable Yorkshire estate. Readers of Emma will be familiar with the conclusion of Jane and Frank’s story, but Dear Jane pulls back the veil which Jane Austen drew over its remainder.
My Thoughts
This is the third and final book in this trilogy that is a prequel of sorts to Jane Austen‘s “Emma.” As I mentioned in previous reviews I have never read “Emma,” and if I’m being honest I probably will never read “Emma.” Having said that I have really enjoyed these stories. Allie Cresswell Rights engaging pros with delightful characters. The book seems authentic without being overly written.
The end of this book overlaps with the beginning of Emma and I really appreciated the footnotes that explained how everything was related. This book was about Jane and I found her tremendously likable definitely someone you want to root for. I feel as though I’m being tremendously vague in this review, but I’m just not sure how to put it in words without spoiling things. The story is a perfect blend of old and new and keeps you completely engaged throughout. I do believe I would have enjoyed this book more as a Jane Austen fan, but I am extremely grateful to have read it. A gem of a book that will appeal to all historical fiction and classic lovers.
Purchase Links:
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Jane-Highbury-Trilogy-inspired-ebook/dp/B07PXGL93S
US – https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Jane-Highbury-Trilogy-inspired-ebook/dp/B07PXGL93S
Author Bio –
Allie Cresswell was born in Stockport, UK and began writing fiction as soon as she could hold a pencil.
She did a BA in English Literature at Birmingham University and an MA at Queen Mary College, London.
She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a book-keeper, run a B & B and a group of boutique holiday cottages. Nowadays Allie writes full time having retired from teaching literature to lifelong learners.
She has two grown-up children, two granddaughters, two grandsons and two cockapoos but just one husband – Tim. They live in Cumbria, NW England.
Dear Jane is her ninth novel.
Social Media Links – http://www.allie-cresswell.com
https://www.facebook.com/alliescribbler/
@alliescribbler
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